These stunning Caramel Apple Cookies involve a little extra work, but their deliciousness is well worth the effort. Use a tart or sweet-tart apple like Braeburn, Granny Smith, or Jonathan. Recipe makes about 36 cookies using a tablespoon scoop.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: apple, cookies
Author: Beth Cato
Ingredients
Cookies:
1/2cupunsalted butter1 stick, softened
1 1/4cupsbrown sugarpacked
1teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspooncinnamon
sprinklecloves
sprinklenutmeg
1/4teaspoonsalt
1eggroom temperature
1/2cupapple cideror juice
2 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
1cuptart applepeeled and coarsely shredded or diced, most of a medium apple
Frosting:
1/2cupbrown sugarpacked
3Tablespoonsunsalted butter
3Tablespoonsapple cider or juice
2 2/3cupsconfectioners' sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth, then add brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and salt. Continue to beat until fluffy, scraping bowl as needed.
Beat in the egg and apple cider or juice. Slowly mix in flour. Fold in the apple bits last; dough will be very soft.
Use a tablespoon scoop to space out dollops of dough on the parchment paper. Bake about 12 to 14 minutes, until golden brown; be careful not to under-bake, as the cookies need to be sturdy enough to be frosted. Completely cool cookies on wire rack.
When the cookies are cool, begin making frosting on stovetop. On medium heat in small saucepan, stir together brown sugar, butter, and apple cider or juice. Heat until the brown sugar is dissolved. Gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar.
Begin frosting cookies immediately; the back of a spoon works well. If the frosting in the pan begins to harden, stir in a few drops of hot water until it is smooth again.
Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature with wax paper between the layers.